There is some great character development for Edward, as he calls in the favor he is owed by Anita.   It brings our "heap big vampire slayer" to the desert Southwest around Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Little by little, we find that "Death" has a life aside from being the ultimate killer for hire that we have met in several previous Blake stories.  Is Edward more than a killing machine or is it all a ruse?  Anita suspects that he may be letting himself pick up some bad habits and keeping company with some people that could cause him even more danger than usual.

Anita is being asked to come to the aid of "Ted", which is one of the more legal of the alias' that Edward uses from time to time.  "Ted" is helping the local police investigate some especially grisly murders and maimings and brings Anita from St. Louis to help with tracking down what is strongly suspected to be a preternatural boogey man who has even the police spooked.

There are some really fascinating new characters, including the creepy Olaf and the Master Vampire of the City of Albuquerque, Itzpapalotl, who believes herself to be an Aztec God.

As always, the fights are frantic, fast-paced and full of blood and gore.  Anita is good AND, sometimes, just plain lucky, but she never gives up.  No wonder Edward wants her on his side.

The book has a very different flavor than the previous books, since most the men in Anita's life are all back in St. Louis.  As she, herself, says:  her love life has gotten way too complicated and messy.   She is taking time away from Jean Claude and Richard to try to come to some understanding of her feelings, so spending time in New Mexico, keeps her from having to spend time working on her private life and loves.

The only fault that I found with this book was on some of the technicals.  It contained even more muddling typos and mixed up sentences than usual.  I have to blame the publisher for not having edited the book better.   Although sometimes annoying, it doesn't detract from a really good addition to the series.  Keep 'em coming, Ms. Hamilton!  Your fans will read all (of them that) you can write.

Carol Abbott, Reviewer

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